The Middleton Accounts of 1525: #27

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby for 1525 was dated as the 26th October. It was described as a payment to Lewis ap John for his costs to go to Wales. The amount was 3 shillings and 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £73.55 today and comparative at that time to 5 days wages for a skilled tradesman.

This is the only entry that can be clearly attached to Lewis. Lewis ap John is a Welsh name, however, because John Lewissay, who was recording the entries in the accounts, was Welsh and often wrote names in their Welsh form we cannot be certain that Lewis was actually Welsh. “Ap John” meant son of John and subsequently was Anglicised into the fixed surname of Jones.

It was not mentioned why Lewis went to Wales but one possible reason was for the purchase of livestock. In the 1520s, the accounts contain frequent reference to purchases of cattle in particular as well as other animals from Wales. The purchased cattle were then walked back to Middleton. At that time, cattle that were bred in Wales tended to be small due to the nutrient content of their pasture. These were then brought to Middleton, which had very good pasture land, and were fattened for either consumption or sale.

Cows in the Flower Meadow at Middleton Hall, 2013. Photograph taken by Rehana Firth.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p378.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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